Que Kids Daze Program Kicks Off: Promotes Fun and Learning for Youth

One of Gamma Pi chapter's newest programs is Que Kids Daze. Started just a couple years ago, the program is an activity-oriented initiative through which the chapter organizes and conducts a wide range of fun and educational activities for younger children in a needy area of Prince George's County. The program is held every third Saturday at the Glassmanor Community Center in Oxon Hill, Md beginning at 10 a.m. After the summer break, Que Kids Daze returned on Saturday, November 21. Brother Eddie Epps, Social Action chairman for Gamma Pi, runs the program along with Brother Orlando McDowell.

Among activities planed for the coming months are gym time, field trips, lessons on the Kwanzaa holiday, outings to basketball games, attending cheerleading competitions and discussions about Black history. Lunch is provided to the children at 12 noon.


Enjoy these video clips from the November 21 session. An extended video presentation is available on the chapter's Internet Video Channel, GammaPiTV.

TV News Anchor Leon Harris Challenges Youth to "Be Your Best" During Gamma Pi Chapter's Achievement Week Program

When he took to the podium at Saturday's 36th Annual Gamma Pi Achievement Week program at Suitland's Drew Freeman High School, ABC 7 WJLA TV news anchor Leon Harris admitted that he only figured out what he wanted to talk about a few minutes before he walked on stage. Saying to the audience "I probably should not have told you that," he half-jokingly looked back at the chapter Brothers who were sharing the stage with him, wondering what their reaction would be. And then he launched into an emotional, captivating, from-the-heart stemwinder that amounted to a personal appeal to the students in the audience to look past the naysayers ("even if they are related to you") and the obstacles and make something of themselves.

"You are a miracle. Don't blow this one opportunity," he implored the students. Both the adults and the students in the audience seemed to be taking in every word as Harris talked about how he overcame his own odds to realize success in journalism. The audience seemed surprised to learn from Harris that his own father beat his mother and that for Harris, there were numerous days as a young boy when he would "wish I had been anybody but Leon Harris," adding that he shared his father's name, Leon Harris. Sr.

Harris also talked about how he gained a new perspective on life and his purpose when he visited Africa and saw an area of the continent where people were offered two choices: either be shipped out for American soil as slaves or swim with the sharks in the water below. He also drew some laughs when he talked about how he attended Ohio University on a National Merit Scholarship but "perpetrated" that he was on a football scholarship because he did not want to appear "smart." That was his way of encouraging students to look at being smart as "cool."

Harris's message fit nicely with Gamma Pi using the opportunity of the Achievement Week program to recognize local winners of chapter scholarship awards as is done every year. The Harris keynote also underscored an inspired performance from the Surrattsville High School choir, led by Gamma Pi Brother Marcus Davis.

Gamma Pi also took time to pay homage to several community leaders for their unsung efforts in the Prince George's County community. Those honorees were Rev. William "Bill" Lee, Assistant Pastor of the Community of Hope AME Church in Temple Hills, as Citizen of the Year; Rev. James Jordan Jr., Pastor of Refreshing Spring Church of God in Christ in Riverdale as the Religious Leader of the Year; Michelle Powell-Larkin, the recently retired principal of Rose Valley Elementary as Educator of the Year; and Sam Yirerky, a student at Parkdale High who was selected as Scholar Athlete of the Year.

The chapter provided $1500 scholarships to the following students: Doninique Felicia Gill (University of Georgia), Kayla LaShell Hartley (University of California), Briana Martina Riche (Temple University), Melanie Nicole Countee (Texas Southern University), Tevin Terrell Jones (Morehouse College), Alexander L. Strachan (Dickinson College), Joy Mariah Hines (University of Maryland), and Brandon Edwin Browne (Winston-Salem State University). The chapter provided follow-on support for the same amount to hager Franklin (University of Maryland), Evan Robert Ash (Georgia Tech), Vivian Louise McCall (Catholic University), Ogechi Cynthia Achuko (Vanderbilt University) and Cameron Elaine White and Claire Nicole White (Bowie State University). Also recognized were three recent graduates and scholarship winners from Project ENRICH: Kimberlyn Davis (Bowie State), Jeremiah Hudson and Thaddeus White III (Morgan State).

On hand to witness the chapter's Achievement Week program were County Executive Brother Jack Johnson; Brother Dr. Mickey L. Burnim, president of Bowie State University; State Senator Ulysses Currie and former state legislator Brother Rushern Baker, who is preparing to run to succeed Brother Johnson in the County Executive chair.

Several members of the Gamma Pi chapter were also honored during the program on Saturday. Brother Akima Rogers, Vice Basileus of the chapter, was presented with the Founder's Award. Brother Melvern McCottry, who heads the NAACP Committee effort, was given the Superior Service Award. And Brother James Alexander, Chapter Editor, received the chapter's Omega Man of the Year award. Enjoy the video clips below:

His Excellency Brother Teddy Taylor "Presents Credentials" In Papua New Guinea: Now on the Job as U.S. Ambassador

A month ago, Brother Teddy Taylor was saying his goodbyes to the Brothers of Gamma Pi chapter. The South Pacific and the pinnacle of a career as a Foreign Service officer beckoned as he looked forward to serving as one of the few African American U.S. Ambassadors. Today, Brother Taylor has "made port" in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and is officially on the job as U.S. Ambassador to PNG (as Papua New Guinea is called), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

In this October 26 photo (it was actually Sunday October 25 in the U.S.), Brother Taylor (and wife Antoinette) is seen with the Governor-General Paulias Matane at the presentation of credentials at Government House. Other members of his U.S. Embassy team are in the photo. Click on the photo to enlarge it. As part of the ceremony, His Excellency Brother Taylor reviewed an Honor Guard and delivered official remarks. An excerpt from those remarks is contained below. Here is a national news story complete with photo about the ceremony from The National Post, one of New Guinea's largest newspapers. Also, Brother Ambassador Taylor was interviewed by Australia Network News. Below, take a video tour of downtown Port Moresby and watch a video news report (EM TV of Papua New Guinea) on Brother Ambassador Taylor's credentials presentation ceremony.

"I am delighted to be here at a time when Papua New Guinea’s economic future looks so promising. Proceeds from liquid natural gas projects as well as other mineral and mining enterprises should enable you to address urgent needs in education, health, infrastructure and many other areas. We will be glad to share our experiences with you in accordance with your national plan. We are proud that American corporations such as Exxon Mobil and Interoil will be providing jobs, training and revenue to the people of Papua New Guinea."

Project ENRICH Program for Students Kicks Off Today: Chapter Promotes Scholarship

Every year about this time, the leaves turn from green to brown and begin falling from the trees to the ground below. The scorching hot days of summer give way to the chill of stiff, fall winds and "sweater weather." And you can always count on Gamma Pi chapter ringing in a secondary, albeit important, part of the Prince George's County school year with its Project ENRICH college preparatory program for 9th through 12th graders. The 2009-10 version of Project ENRICH kicked off this morning with the Opening Convocation held at the Center for Learning Technology at Bowie State University.

In a printed open letter to participants and their families, longtime coordinator Brother Roland Byrd set the tone for the occasion: "It is never too early to think about college, about the benefits of a college education, and about ways to put college within reach academically and financially. Throughout the high school years students make decisions that affect whether they will be eligible to enter college ... Today marks the beginning. Welcome!"

About 80 Prince George's County students have signed up to participate this school year. Project ENRICH is a four-year preparatory program (students must begin in grade 9 and complete the program through high school) originated and operated by Gamma Pi chapter for high school students that meets monthly on Saturdays at Bowie State. The students are required to attend sessions on such topics as time management, career planning, study skills and the college selection and application process from a variety of educators, many from within the chapter. Students also take a field trip to visit regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

One of the most anticipated parts of the Opening Convocation each year is when Gamma Pi members line up and take to the stage to individually address the gathered students and their families with their own stories of how they achieved through education. Through sharing their individual stories about education and career, Gamma Pi chapter members motivate the students to set lofty goals and chapter members serve as role models for them in their pursuits of productive lives. Take time to view other Project ENRICH postings on this blog.